Feed-water regulator.



H. McCABE.

v FEED WATER REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1908.

1,148,107. PatehtedJu1y2Zl915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I H. McCABE. FEED WATER REGULATOR.

v APPLICATION FILED APR-16,1908.

' Patented July 27, 1915.

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FEED WATER REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1908.

l 1 4:8 1 07. Patented July 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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v- Zm FEED-WATER. REGULATOR;

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To all whom itmay concern v Be it known that I, HUGH MoCA-BE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-VVa-ter Regulators; and I do hereby declare the-followin'g'to bea full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to-wh-ich it apper tains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to feed-water regulators. f

Its object is to reorganize, Simplify and improve feed-water regulators for Steam boilers; the invention consists in the regulator hereinafter described and particularly y defined in the claims.

Following is a description of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same, the portion 1n frontof the line 2 2 Fig. 1 being removed for the Sake of c'learness; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of thecontrol'ling valve on line 3-3, Fig. 2 with the sideelevat on of balance lever; Fig. 4 is a view partly in longitudinal vertical sectionand partly in ele-. vvation of the lever support; and F 1g. 5 1s a vertical sectional view of the supply valve.

The general operation of the invention is as follows :\V hen the Water in the boiler falls below a certain level, it permits the steam to -flow through a pipe which is opened by the drop of the water in the water column below the end of the pipe, and the steam flows through a trunnion into a balanced lever having at one enda weight and at the other enda large hollow ball. Normally, the ball is filled with water which overba'lances the weight upon the other end" of the lever. When the steam flows into the ball and displaces the water therein, the weight on the other end of the balance lever over-balances theball and the weight drops and thereupon opens a controlling valve and allows steam to flow through'to a supply .valve of a water supplying means for supplying-water to the boiler. The opening of the supply valve permits steam fronr the Specificationof Letters Patent.

ing access of steam to brace 6 secured to the 1s a valve chamber 7 having an out boiler .to flow through to a steam pump which pumps the water to the boiler, or permits Water toflow'froima hydrostatic pres above the end of this pipe, thereby preventthe boiler, the water flows into the ball thereby causing it tooverbalance the Weight and to drop. This closes the controlling valve, Shutting oil the supply of-steam to the supply valve and at the same tlme opens an exhaust valve allowing the pressure on the supply valve to be reduced and the supply valve thereupon automaticall-ycloses shutting off the supply of steam or waterr s In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a water columnl is connected to the boiler by a pipe 2 extending the water column'tothe steam space inthe boiler, and :by a pipe 3 from'the lower end of the water eolumntothe boiler below the water level The lower end ofthe water column normally extendsbelow the lowest level of the water in-the boiler.

- were STATES Patented July 27, 1915. Applieationfiled Apri1;16,-1908. SeriaINo. 427,339.

from the top of A controlling valve is connected to the' up-- per or steam portion of the water column,- by a p1pe4 extend ng upwardly to a valve casing 5 which is laterally supported by a pipe 2. Within the casing 5 let 8 connected to a supply valve and the supply: of steam from the pipe 4 to the supply valve is controlled by a controlling valve 9'mounted on the lower end of a stem 10 which passes through an exhaust chamber 11 having an outlet or exhaust 12- I The stem 10 is slotted just above the controlling valve-to permit the steam to escape from the valve chamber into .the exhaust chamber Upon the upper end of the stem 10 is mou-ntedabutton' 13 which moves within a c cup ltand the ,oontrolling'valve 9 is *mainreleased the spring 15' pushes the button 13 upwardly and opens the controlling valvel). Theoperation ofthe controlling valve is when the controlling valve 9 is closed. i

regulated by a balanced flever. From the valve casing 5 extends upwardly a yoke 16,

the ends 17 and 18 of which are hollow and form bearings for two hollow trunnions 19 and 20 respectively. A pipe 21 extends from the water column at the critical line to the hollow end 17 of the yoke and a similar pipe 22 runs from the lower portion of the water column to the other end 18 of the yoke. The pipes 4, 21 and 22. are all consteam-tight-by means of packing 24 compressed by ported glands 25 operated by hand wheels 26 on stems 27 which screw into the ends of the yoke ends 17 and 18 and are held by check nuts 28. The other ends of the trunnions extend toward the center'of the yoke and" are threaded in order to engage threaded bores and therebypi-votally support between them a balanced casting 29 having chambers 30 and 31 which are continuations respectively of the hollowtrun nions 19 and 20. These chambers 30 and 31 open respectively into two pipes 32 and 33 which extend horizontally from the casting .29 and enter a ball34 supported by them, the pipe 32 extending within the ball nearly to the top. On the opposite side of the casting 29 is a horizontallyextending rod 35 carryin a weight 36 and the casting 29 with the rod and weight on one side and the pipes and ball on the other side form a balanced lever pivotally mounted on the trunnions. When the ball is vfull of water it overbalances the weight and retains the lever in a horizontal position and in that position, the under side of the casting 29 presses downwardly upon the button 13 and keeps the controlling valve 9 closed but, when the ball is empty the weight overbalances and causes the lever to revolve on the trunnions and the casting 29 to move upwardly thereby permitting the controlling valve'to be opened by the spring 15.

screwstop 37 limits the downward movement of the weighted end of the lever. From the outlet 8 inthe valve chamber 7 a pipe 38 extends to a chamber39 in a casing 40 for thepurpose of carrying steam to open a supply valve. Within the chamber 39 is a piston 41 mounted on a'stem 42, the lower end of which carries a supply valve 43 for opening and closing the opening between an inlet chamber 44connected to a steam supply and an" outlet chamber 45 connected to. a steam pump. In the chamber 39 the stem 42 is held steam-tight by packing 46 compressed by a gland47. Around the upper portion of the valve stem is a helical spring 48, the lower end abutting against the top of the piston 41 and the upper end abutting against a spring cap 49 of the casing 40, which exerts pressure upon the piston and tends to keep the supply valve 43 closed at all times. For convenience in operating the supply valve independently of steam pressure, the upper end of the stem 42 is screwthreaded and provided with a hand wheel 50, the hub 51 01": which seats on the top of the spring cap 49, and the supply valve is raised or lowered by turning the hand wheel. This device operates in detail as follows Vfhen the water in the boiler falls below the critical line, it opens the end of the pipe 21 in the water column and permits steam to flow up through the pipe 21, through the hollow end-17 of the yoke 16, the trunnion 19, the chamber 30 of the balanced casting 29 and the pipe 32 into the ball 34 thereby displacing the water which flows out of the ball through the pipe 33, the chamber 31 in the balanced casting 29, through the trunnion 20 andthe end 18 of the yoke 16 into the pipe 22 and back into the water column. With this displacement of the water in the ball by steam, the weight 36 over-balances the ball and causes the balanced lever to tip and the casting 29 moves upwardly and permits the spring 15 to open the controlling valve 9 and admit steam from the upper portion of the water column through the pipe 4, the valve chamber 7 and pipe 38 to the chamber 39 where the steam pressure moves the piston 41 upwardly and lifts the supply valve 43. lhis allows steam to flow to the steam pump, by which the boiler is fed. When the water in the boiler rises above the mouth of the pipe 21 then the supply of steam through that pipe to the balanced lever and ball is shut off and the condensation of steam in those portions causes the water to flow up through pipes 21 and 22, the trunnions 19 and 20, chambers 30 and 31, and pipes 32 and 33 into the ball 34, I

and the ball gradually fills. In this state,

pipe 4 to the supply valve. At the same time, the steam in the chamber 39 and pipe 38 exhausts-tln-ough the slots on the stem 10 to the exhaust chamber 11. This reduces the pressure in the chamber 39 and the spring 49 forces down the piston 41 and supply valve 43 thereby shutting oil the supply of steam to the steam pump or the supply of water from the hydrostatic pressure reservoir tothe boiler as the case may be. An important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the controlling valve which controls the flow of steam to the supply valve. The valve, it will be noted, closes against thepressure of the steam, as a consequence of which, when the lever tips and the pressure which the latter exerts on this valve is relieved, the valve un'der the influence of the boiler pressure assisted by its spring is moved away from its seat with great certainty of operation. At the same time this same valve also operates to close the exhaust from the supply valve and the steam pressure is availed of to hold the exha'u'st opening closed. The making of the exhaust and the steam valvein one piece inures to the simplicity of the apparatus by the reduction not only in the number of moving parts but by the elimination of friction incident thereto. Furthermore, it will be observed that the controlling valve closing as it does against the pressure of the steam needs no stuffing gland. This contributes to the certainty of the operation of the apparatus by the elimination of friction incident to the use of such glands.

In the present construction, it is to be observed, the pressures on the opposite trunnions are equal, as a result of which there is no end thrust on the balanced lever casting. This is a feature of practical importance as it reduces the friction required to be overcome in the tipping of the lever and thereby contributes to the certainty of oper ation of the apparatus. It is also to be observed that the parts are simple and so arranged that the device requires little care and is therefore well adapted for use in boiler rooms and the like where such mechanisms are subjected to a minimum of care and a maximum of dirt and abuse.

The present invention is not limited to the specific construction illustrated herein as it may be embodied in other forms.

ll hat is claimed is 1. A water feed regulator for boilers, having, in combination, water supplying means, a controlling valve for controlling the starting and stopping of the water supplying means, a balanced lever for actuating the controlling valve supported on hollow trunnicns, supports for the trunnions having passages communicating with the passages of the hollow trunnions, and means within the passages in the supports comprising ported glands for packing the trunnions, substantially as described.

A water-feed regulator for boilers having, in combination, a steam actuated water supplying means, a pipe connection between said means and the boiler and a controlling valve in the said connection, and mecha nism for operating the valve including a frame of a substantially Y shape having a controlling valve inclosed in the lower part of the Y and having a steam connection through one branch of the Y and a water connection through the other branch of the Y, a hollow ball, a ball-supporting lever having trunnions supported in the branches of the Y-shaped frame and having a steam passage through one trunnronto the steam connection in one branch oft-he Y and having a water passage through the other trunnion to the water connection in the other branch of the Y, said lever being situated immediately above the valve, and an operating connection between the lever and valve, substantially as described. 3. A water-feed regulator for boilers having, in "combination, a steam actuated supply valve for regulatingthe supply of water to the boiler, a valve casing having a steam inlet from the boiler, a steam outlet con nected to the supply valve and an exhaust passage, a controlling valve within the casing having oppositely disposed seats for controlling the inlet and exhaust passages respectively and closing the inlet passage against the boiler pressure, a balanced lever, a hollow ball carried by the lever, counterbalancing means acting on the lever to counterbalance the hollow ball, steam and water connections between the hollow ball and the boiler, said balanced lever being arranged to engage and close the inlet passage of the controlling valve when tilted in one direc tion, and a spring assisting the boiler pressure Ior opening the inlet passage of the controlling valve when the lever is tilted in the other direction, substantially as described. I 4. A water-feed regulator for boilers havmg, in combination, a steam actuated water supplying means, a pipe connection between said means and the boiler, a controlling valve in the pipe connection openin against the boiler pressure and having a valve stem pro ecting outside of the valve casing, a bal anced lever having provision so as to be tilted in either-direction dependin upon the water line of the boiler, said lever loosely engaging the projecting end of the valve stem to close the valve when tilted in one direction, and a spring assisting the boiler pressure for opening the valve when the lever is tilted in the other direction, substantially as described.

5. A water-feed regulator for boilers hav- 111g, in combination, a steam actuated water supplying means, a pipe connection between said means and the boiler and a controlling valve in the said pipe connection, and mechanism for operating the valve including a frame of a substantially f shape having a controlling valve inclosed in the lower Jart of the i and having a steam connection through one branch of the V and a water connection through the other branch of the Y, a hollow ball, a ball-supporting lever having trunnions supported in the branches of the Y-shaped frame and having a steam passage through one trunnion to the steam connection in one branch of the Y and having a water passage through the other trunnion to the water connection in the other branch of the Y, said lever being situated immedi- In tes'timonywhereof I affix my signature,

ately above the valve, and an operating conin presence of two Witnesses. nectlon between the lever and valve 1nclucl r TT w ing a valve stem extending from the valve HUGH MQCABE' in the crotch between the branches of the Y \Vitnesses: and arranged to be moved by'the lever, sub- H RACE VAN EVEREN', stantially as described. ALICE ACKROYD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

